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Re: Lottery winners: public or anonymous?

Originally Posted by radcen

Mini survey: Should a large jackpot lottery winner be required to have their name published, or should they be allowed to remain anonymous?

I think it should be their choice. I'd imagine a lottery ticket could be filled out on the back with "The ABC Trust." And an attorney could present it on the behalf of the trust with a power of attorney. I'm not sure, but I don't see why not, since a power of attorney says "I am that person" -- (the designated trustee, who would be the winner.)

I don't remember seeing anything on the back of a lottery ticket that says, in effect, you agree that your win can be used in any promotional advertising...

If people win, say, $50,000, I think they just run to the lottery office to collect their money. If they wish to remain anonymous, they should retain an attorney to handle it for them. For the big wins? Millions? If they don't retain an attorney and financial consultant before collecting, they're fools.

Re: Lottery winners: public or anonymous?

Originally Posted by MaggieD

I think it should be their choice. I'd imagine a lottery ticket could be filled out on the back with "The ABC Trust." And an attorney could present it on the behalf of the trust with a power of attorney. I'm not sure, but I don't see why not, since a power of attorney says "I am that person" -- (the designated trustee, who would be the winner.)

I don't remember seeing anything on the back of a lottery ticket that says, in effect, you agree that your win can be used in any promotional advertising...

If people win, say, $50,000, I think they just run to the lottery office to collect their money. If they wish to remain anonymous, they should retain an attorney to handle it for them. For the big wins? Millions? If they don't retain an attorney and financial consultant before collecting, they're fools.

Some states hold the opinion that openness and publicity helps to maintain the integrity of the lottery system. People see the winners and thus see that the payouts actually do get made. There is some logic to that, I accept, but to me it is not enough to override the privacy and safety concerns of the winners. Privacy and safety from multitudes of scam artists that will try to make off with their winnings. Nobody should be forced to deal with that (I reject the "if you don't like the rules, don't play" tripe) if they win.

Last edited by radcen; 08-12-12 at 09:52 PM.

Colonel Klink: [runs to the window and shouts outside] Schultz! Close the gates! The War is back on!

Re: Lottery winners: public or anonymous?

Nobody should be forced to have their names publicly announced. Believe it or not, winners of big lotteries have got a host of problems in front of them, not the least of which are unscrupulous financial planners, friends, ex-friends, neighbors, and long-lost relatives, all with their hands out, not to mention scam artists and thugs willing to hold them at gunpoint to get their hands on the money.

Re: Lottery winners: public or anonymous?

Originally Posted by DiAnna

Nobody should be forced to have their names publicly announced. Believe it or not, winners of big lotteries have got a host of problems in front of them, not the least of which are unscrupulous financial planners, friends, ex-friends, neighbors, and long-lost relatives, all with their hands out, not to mention scam artists and thugs willing to hold them at gunpoint to get their hands on the money.

Should be ex-"friends" and long-lost "relatives".

Colonel Klink: [runs to the window and shouts outside] Schultz! Close the gates! The War is back on!